The establishment of Regional Water Utilities with financial, administrative, and operational efficiency is a top priority for the Water Authority. Currently, more than 300 institutions provide water services to citizens, the vast majority of which face significant challenges related to water quantities, high loss rates, low revenue collection, and other obstacles that negatively impact the quality of services delivered to the public. The Water Authority seeks to establish regional water utilities as part of a realistic, gradual vision to transition to such utilities and benefit from bulk water economies, which positively affect the cost per cubic meter of water and the service provided to citizens. Water law grants the Water Authority the power to establish these utilities, and has made significant efforts in planning and preparation to create them to realistically reduce the large number of service providers.
Regional Water Utilities are responsible for the following tasks and responsibilities
- Providing water and sanitation services to users for household, industrial, commercial, and tourism.
- Managing, developing, operating, and distributing water services sustainably and without discrimination, in accordance with the standards approved by the Authority.
- Managing the collection and treatment of wastewater, developing these processes, and disposing of treated water and by-products in accordance with nationally and internationally approved standards and specifications.
- Preparing and implementing strategic plans to provide sustainable services efficiently and effectively.
- Cooperating and coordinating with the Authority and the Council to exchange information aimed at improving the performance of water and wastewater services.
- Implementing water, sanitation, and storm water projects in accordance with quality standards, technical designs, and specifications approved by the Authority and relevant bodies, and in accordance with applicable legislation.
- Managing and discharging storm water drainage in accordance with nationally and internationally approved standards and specifications.
- Ensuring the optimal use of water resources, protecting them from pollution, mitigating risks, improving water demand management, and raising public awareness within the service area.
- Collaborating with other regional water utilities and relevant institutions to develop plans and programs for the management of water and sanitation services.
- Cooperating with local and international entities to support and achieve its objectives and tasks, and establishing partnerships to develop services and secure funding in accordance with applicable legislation.
- Operating in accordance with drinking water specifications, standards, and quality criteria approved by competent authorities under the prevailing legislation
- Developing and implementing plans and programs for capacity building in coordination with the Authority.
- Preparing and implementing the annual budget after its approval by the Authority.
- Monitoring and addressing complaints regarding water and sanitation services.
- Contracting a licensed operator in accordance with the provisions of this system.
- Complying with performance standards and indicators issued by the Council, and providing the required information and data to the Council in a transparent manner.
